We're Revealing Recipes and the World's Best Cheeses

Cheese competitions like this year's World Championship Cheese Contest offer big-time bragging rights to cheese artisans crafting at the top of their game. But they also advance and support our cheesemakers with expert feedback that turns their great cheeses into the world's best. “There’s a ton of excitement, from seeing who wins cheese categories or Best of Show to the crowd of folks observing us as we judge,” shares cheese expert and judge Dean Sommer. "My eyes are always drawn to the beautiful array of cheeses."

Congratulations to Henning's Wisconsin Cheese and Schuman Cheese for making the list of Top 20 cheeses in this year's World Championship Cheese Contest! Henning's Aged Cheddar Midget (aged 9-18 months) is creamy and rich, with a nutty and slightly tangy flavor that becomes increasingly sharp with age. Schuman's Cello® Copper Kettle is a parmesan crafted from an exclusive recipe cooked in copper vats and aged 16 months, resulting in robust, sweet flavors with a distinct caramel finish.

Named after two French wine terms that mean “the best of the best,” Roth Grand Cru® Surchoix was crowned the World Champion in 2016! It also won Best of Class at the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest and Super Gold at the 2019 World Cheese Awards. Made with Swiss traditions and the finest milk, it's a washed-rind, alpine-style cheese crafted in copper vats and cellar-aged for at least nine months. This treasure is only released when the cheese reaches its peak complex caramel, fruity and mushroom notes.

Fresh and salty with a tart twist, feta deserves a spot on your festive spring table, especially 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest Best of Class winners Odyssey® Traditional Feta and Odyssey® Peppercorn Feta. Both are crafted by the Klondike Cheese Company, founded in 1925 by the Buholzer family. Today, it’s home to six Master Cheesemakers, including four family members. Taste the flavor difference when you upgrade your warm appetizers, seasonal salads and mezze platters with these award winners.

Don’t miss the fun as this season’s cheftestants battle it out in a cutthroat cheese festival featuring some of Wisconsin's award-winning cheeses and other culinary delights. Watch for the cameos of your favorite Wisconsin cheesemakers! Bravo’s "Top Chef" premiered on March 20. Catch the entire season on Bravo on Wednesday nights from 8:00 to 9:15 pm CST. Episodes will be available the next day on Peacock.

Arena Cheese is known for its colby. But when colby met jack, it was love at first bite. Colby-jack was created in 1979 and celebrates its 45th anniversary this year! Today, matchmaker and Master Cheesemaker Bill Hanson is at the helm. "Following the recipe, following your moisture analyzer, following your pH meter—you'll always make good cheese," Bill shares. "But if you incorporate that touch and feel, you'll make great cheese." Arena's marbled colby-jack won Best of Class at the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest.